Interesting. I actually find this move somewhat encouraging, as it potentially signals Arte Moreno's willingness to hire a true, independent GM (i.e., not someone who merely does Scioscia's bidding) who will, in turn, be given free reign to hire his own underlings. Presumably, anyone interested in being more than a figurehead GM would also want to hire his/her own assistants.

I hope you're right. Scioscia's insane comments this year equating calling up Hank Conger with asking Mike Trout to catch (along with the Napoli trade, done as though he were a throwaway piece) makes me think he doesn't know the first thing about evaluating catching talent.